Appeals court finds evidence to charge Don Lemon over church protest, but won’t force arrest warrant

The decision, unsealed Saturday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, came after DOJ asked the appeals court to overrule a Minnesota magistrate judge who refused to approve multiple arrest warrants related to the protest.

Published: January 24, 2026 2:27pm

Updated: January 24, 2026 2:30pm

A federal appeals court concluded that the Justice Department has shown probable cause to charge former CNN anchor Don Lemon in connection with a protest inside a St. Paul, Minnesota church, but the court declined to order a lower-court judge to sign the arrest warrants that prosecutors sought.

The decision, unsealed Saturday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, came after the Justice Department asked the appeals court to overrule a Minnesota magistrate judge who refused to approve multiple arrest warrants related to the protest.

The protest took place Sunday inside Cities Church in St. Paul after demonstrators against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entered the building when they believed an ICE official was one of the church’s pastors.

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News